Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

Lex’s car skids away fast, leaving me alone in front of my parents’ house.

I honestly don’t know why he got so riled up about Charlie and her past. He’s the manwhore. A manwhore who participated in gangbangs. I’m not entirely sure what a gangbang entails, not being a huge fan of porn, but Eric is your walking encyclopedia for all things sex-related should I require more information. Gross but hilarious at the same time.

My mom is sitting on the couch with a cup of tea when I walk in. My parents’ living room is cozy and warm. It isn’t the house we grew up in, but they make it feel like home. The tones are all neutral with a splash of color on the cushions. The mantel holds all the frames from our childhood and newer additions of the grandkids. My mom is obsessed with lamps—there’s one in almost every room in this house including one made of seashells my dad absolutely despises.

She pats the couch, and I take a seat beside her, resting my head on her shoulder. I feel lost and unsure of myself. Tonight’s events are plaguing me, the thought of him watching me. That he is talking to Andy and most importantly, that he’s trying to talk to me. I don’t understand what she means about me not listening. I’m not hearing any voices, and I don’t see any unusual signs.

“Mom, can I ask you a question?”

“Of course, honey.” She places her tea carefully on the coffee table.

“When is too soon to start seeing someone else?”

She looks at me and smiles. “Are you seeing someone?”

“It’s just a question,” I mumble quietly.

“Baby girl, I know you better than anyone else. I can see you’re happy, Adriana. Someone is making you smile, and as much as you’ll hate me for saying this, you’ve also put on some weight. You look healthy and have a beautiful glow.”

“On my boobs?” I ask in hope.

“Yes, they do look fuller.” She laughs.

I laugh along with her, then let out a sigh, snuggling into her side.

“Honey, please don’t be afraid to talk to me.”

“I’m not, Mom, it’s just complicated.”

“It always is. Whoever is making you smile like this, please say thank you from me.”

“I will do that.” I smile. “Mom, can you promise me something?”

“What, honey?”

“Just promise me if you hear anything about this from anyone else, you hear me out first?”

She pulls me in closer and embraces me tightly. “I’m assuming your brother is the problem here.”

“Yes.”

“Adriana, Lex will always be protective over you. He and Elijah had a special bond. Just don’t forget to give him a break, too.”

“Mom, Lex won’t understand.”

“What makes you so sure of that?”

“One day we’ll revisit this conversation, and you’ll know why. It’s late now.” I stand and stretch my arms, ready to carry Andy into the car.

“I love you, honey, no matter what you choose in life.”

“I know, Mom, and I love you, too.”

I find Andy fast asleep on my parents’ bed. He is curled up into a ball hugging his koala bear I got him from Australia. I watch him for a few moments, his eyes fluttering every so often, his tiny breaths making small sounds. He is muttering something very softly about white feathers and angels. OMG, is this a sign? I lean forward to carry him into my arms, and the moment I have my grip on him, he silences. I move my face toward his and inhale his scent—my baby.

I never would’ve dreamed or even asked for this life, but Andy makes every second worth living. I can’t imagine my life without him, he is truly a blessing from above, and I have no regrets of persuading Elijah to do IVF when he tried to convince me it wasn’t the right time.

I say goodbye to my mom and head home with a sleepy Andy talking to himself in the back seat.

***

It’s very late, and I can’t fall asleep. Tonight was overwhelming, and as much as I said I don’t believe all that fortune-telling shit, it got to me more than I thought it would. I grab my cell and decide to text Julian. I’m not sure if I’ll get a response, but I do ten minutes later.

Julian:Why are you awake? I was just about to hop into the shower.

Curiosity gets the better of me. It’s late, has he been out? He didn’t say anything to me when we spoke earlier. It occurs to me that he rarely tells me what he’s doing unless, of course, I ask. We live separate lives, and the only thing we do together is have sex. Perhaps that’s my fault, the desire possessing me in a way that is new territory for me. He’s equally as demanding, unable to resist touching me whenever we’re within arms’ reach of each other.

Can it be that it’s just sex for him?

I’m a plaything to occupy his time while he recovers?

I send him a quick text.

Me:Why are you about to hop into the shower? It’s 3am.

There’s no bubble, and I wait impatiently. If possible, I’m even more alert than before. My mind is conjuring up all these possibilities including the fact that maybe Julian isn’t alone.

Julian:I just came back from a friend’s book launch in Malibu. Great party.

The animosity starts to build, my words blurting out onto the screen before I even re-read them.

Me:Party? As in girls?

I throw my cell to the side momentarily to calm myself down. Crossing my arms, I stare at the wall like it’s my enemy. The curiosity of his response gets the better of me.

Julian:Yes there were girls there. There are girls everywhere, Adriana.

I don’t respond, and I’m pissed he went to a party where, no doubt, girls will have thrown themselves at him. The vibration of my cell startles me, and I see his name along with the words FaceTime appearing on my screen. Great, I have to actually see him meaning I can’t show how annoyed I am.

“Hi.” I plaster a fake smile on my face.

“So, walk me through this, Adriana, because I do not understand what I’ve done wrong…”

I sigh. Do I tell him the truth? “I don’t like it when you’re with other girls.”

He screws up his mouth and runs his hands through his hair. “There’s always going to be other women around, just like there is always going to be other men around you.”

“Yes, but I’m not super-hot like you.”

“You don’t think so?” He laughs. “Do you remember at my book launch when I came over, and you were chatting with Barry?”

“Yes…”

“The three male bartenders were gawking at you. I actually had a word with them.”

“What? Wait… you did that?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I was dressed up. I don’t always look like that,” I try to downplay.

“Do you remember when we were getting surf lessons at Bondi Beach? The instructor asked me for your number in case you were free.”

“Oh, well, I was in a bikini. Go figure.”

“No, Adriana, you’re stunning. Everywhere we went, men would turn their heads to look at you. You may not realize it, but I sure as hell do.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry.” He grins, shaking his head slightly. “You are gorgeous. I can’t stop men from looking at you as long as they know who you belong to.”

“Well, how would they know if we can’t be seen in public together?”

“Again, Adriana, you’re calling the shots on this one, and I’ve told you numerous times, it’ll come out eventually.”

The decision to come out as a couple is too overwhelming. I don’t know why, but I’m kind of hoping things will just work themselves out. There’s a better chance of Eric turning straight than that happening.

“Were you really getting into the shower?”

A smile spreads across his face. “Yes. You don’t believe me?”

“No, prove it.”

His cell moves, and the screen has moved down his torso like a slow-motion video, and I’m fixated on his sculpted abs. What a fucking tease. I wait in anticipation for the main feature, licking my lips as the screen shows me the top of his pubic bone.

He quickly brings it up to his face. “You believe me now?”

“No, you just had your shirt off. Big deal,” I brush it off, pushing him to show me the rest.

“Well, then, I better prove you wrong.”

This time I watch with my hand rested on my thigh. He doesn’t waste time, moving the cell smack bam in perfect view of his beautiful dick as it stands hard, practically throbbing and calling out to me.

I almost drop my phone in shock.

“Cat got your tongue?” He laughs.

“Uh, more like cock got my tongue. That’s unfair. You’re parading around like that, and I’m not there.” I sulk.

“Might have to take care of it myself, then.”

“You’re mean! Well, fine, maybe I’ll need to take care of myself, too,” I say, playing along with his game.

He walks over to the bed and positions his cell in front of him. His naked body is sprawled across the bed with his legs wide open. The moisture between my legs warns me I won’t have to self-help myself for very long, the ache already starting to build between my thighs, traveling and branching out to every part of my body.

With his eyes closed, he strokes himself slowly, releasing soft moans as his pace increases.

Holy shit, this is unbelievably erotic.

And with that said, I position my cell exactly like his and show him that two can play at this game.

I don’t know what it is about Julian. His raw sexual appetite pushes me beyond my sexual means. This situation right now is out of my comfort zone, yet, with him, my body screams for attention, and awkward and timid Adriana has officially flown the coop.